What Gives You the Right

Now, by the title you can probably tell that this is a semi-sassy inspired post. This post is directed at we people who would consider ourselves Christians in this modern day. AND, hold on, I am including myself in that group. Here’s the thing, what gives us the right to talk down about people and their sins, but also hold ourselves in a higher position?!

Think about it.

That just doesn’t sound like something we should be doing. The reason I’m writing about this is because today, I was sitting at a local Starbucks soaking up the wifi and studying when I zoned in on a conversation. This conversation was between the barista and a girl sitting next to me at the laptop bar. The reason this conversation caught my attention was because when this girl sat down next to me she pulled out her Bible and her journal. Now, for those of you also in the Bible belt, this is a pretty normal occurrence and doesn’t sound odd, but the reason I started listening was because she and the barista were gossiping.

Thing is, I’ll be the first to admit, I gossip but so do you and everybody else. WE ARE ALL GUILTY. Listening to them got me thinking, what are we portraying as so called Christians to the people around us and why do we think it’s ok to put ourselves above other people according to their sins and our sins.

Recently I read the book “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan (amazing read, highly recommended) and I’ve started reading the book “Jesus Is ______.” by Judah Smith. (also, totally recommended) In both of these books the authors touch on the subject of the “badness scale.” In essence what the badness scale is, is the scale we create to compare our sins to others sins in order to make ourselves feel better. In most cases regarding the badness scale we often say things like “If Jesus can help so-and-so then he can definitely help me. She was a prostitute and I only cheated on a math test.”

Like, EXCUSE ME. Where do we get off thinking that our sin is less than someone else’s?!

In the Bible it even says that in Gods eyes, all sin is equal. Here are a few verses to back that up.

Matthew 7:1-5 ESV

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

James 2:10-11 ESV

“For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.”

Romans 3:23 ESV

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

1 John 1:8-9 ESV

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

There it is, in black and white. All sins are the same, we’re all sinners. Haven’t you heard that saying “love the sinner and hate the sin.” I’m pretty sure that you have if you live in the English-speaking world.

There’s another reason I believe that we think our sin is less, it’s because in our hearts we’ve got pride that tells us we’re better than those other people. Here it is folks, I’m not better than you, and you’re not better than me. I don’t care what you do, if you’re the head of a fortune 500 company or a plumber; you’re simply not better than anyone else. The only person you can ever be better than is the person you were yesterday! That’s literally it; you can’t be better than your mom, Billy Graham, President Lincoln, or Kim Kardashian.

I think we have a hard time grasping that because we see the worldly consequences of our actions and then we in turn use those consequences to create our “badness scale.” I know that this is a very hard concept to grasp and master, trust me, I’m not that great at it, but I definitely think it’s something we need to work on.

Here’s some of the trusty Bible to show ya that were all the same in Christ.

Romans 10:12 ESV

“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.”

In reality, we’re all awful people. Judah Smith says that there are two types of people, the people that think they’re good and the people that know they’re not. We’ve all done bad things, we’ve all lied about it too… and you know what that’s just proof that we’re not good and that we need Jesus to forgive us so we can actually live. When you surrender that’s when you experience true freedom.

1 John 1:9 ESV

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

A super amazing example of forgives and everybody being awful is when Jesus forgives the thief on the cross.

Luke 23:32-43 ESV

“32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Just think about that story for a minuet and realize that if God is going to forgive one person, he’s going to forgive them all, the only catch is that we have to ask for the forgiveness.

So that’s it for today, I’m real sorry I haven’t posted in like a month or something. Life gets crazy sometimes. I just wanna tell you guys to stay humble and that you’re all supremely awesome and I love ya.